Spartans Rally On Back Nine At A-Sun Championships
4/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
April 14, 2009
DeLand, Fla. - On a day when play was interrupted by rain and the players were on the course until early evening, Richelle Wedzik continued to lead the USC Upstate women's golf team with the squad's low round of the day to lead the Spartans to a 309 total in the second round of the A-Sun Championships. Upstate remained in ninth place, but has closed the gap and is within just a handful of strokes of a top-half finish in the tournament heading into Wednesday's final round.
Wedzik fired her second straight low round for the Spartans, turning in a 76 on the par-72 Victoria Hills Golf Club course. Her 153, 36-hole total is good for 16th individually in the tournament. Her effort, along with that of Audrey Church who shot a 77, allowed the Spartans to shoot a 309, shaving 13 strokes off its score from Monday. Church's round of 77 was seven shots better than her opening round.
"As the first team on the course today, we had the biggest challenge in dealing with the weather," said Upstate head coach Todd Lawton. "By the time the delay occurred, all our players were on the course and had battled the wind and rain. To finish the round 5-under as a team for our last four holes is exciting and proves that the experience of our seniors can pay off. My hope is that we can take that momentum into the final round and play that way from start to finish.
"When we started again at 1:45 p.m., it was a little bit of good, and a lot of bad. Audrey came through and played her last 12 holes even par with a birdie and a bogey for 77. It was such a steady round and set a good pace for us as she finished over an hour before our next player."
Upstate currently stands ninth in the 10-team tournament with a 631 total, six strokes ahead of Lipscomb at 637. The Spartans trail Mercer by two strokes and Jacksonville by seven. Upstate is just 10 shots out of a fifth-place finish and 14 out of fourth place.
"Tomorrow's round marks the last for our seniors and I am looking forward to spending the day with them," said Lawton. "There's going to be quite a bit of emotion and they deserve a great day to remember."
Campbell, which entered the day in second place, shot a strong 290 Tuesday to vault into first place heading into the final round. The Fighting Camels own a 590 total and lead Stetson by three strokes. Stetson, which shot a 295 on the day for its second straight sub-300 score, is second at 593 and is followed by defending champion East Tennessee State (602), Florida Gulf Coast (617), Belmont (621), Kennesaw State (622), Jacksonville (624), Mercer (629), Upstate (631) and Lipscomb (637).
Upstate struggled early in the second round, but turned it around on the back nine. The Spartans collectively made the turn at +22. However, Upstate rallied by playing the final four holes 5-under-par and was just +6 on the back nine. Julie Miller birdied her final two holes, Richia Wedzik birdied two of her last three holes and Jennifer Judge birdied the par-5 14th and the par-4 15th to help the Spartans to a comeback and the 309 score. All five Spartans posted scores in the 70's.
However, it was Wedzik's steady play throughout the day that made the difference. She was 2-over on both nines, bogeying three par-4s and one par-5 on the day.
"Again, Richelle, led the team with her 76," said Lawton. "She was never in jeopardy of posting a high score and seemed so often to be about to go on a birdie run. Even though she had no birdies, her 14 pars put her near the lead for all players in number of pars made through 36 holes."
Judge and Miller are tied for 35th in the individual standings. The two players have a 36-hole total of 159. Church has a 161 total and is tied for 39th, while Richia Wedzik is tied for 40th at 162.
"Richia and Julie birdied two of their last three holes to finish with solid scores and help us complete a good round," said Lawton. "Jennifer showed true grit in coming back from hitting the ball out of bounds twice on the ninth hole to post a 1-under 35 on the back nine. She had tap-in birdies on 14 and 15 then made a great par-saving putt on 16 before closing with two pars."
A pair of Stetson teammates has taken a share of the individual lead heading into Wednesday's final round. Danielle Jackson, who had the first round lead, and Lauren Cole are tied atop the standings with an even-par 144 total.
